Push button switch



Nov. 1, 1960 J. H. HORMAN PUSH BUTTON swncx-x 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 5. 1958 mum .m 0 q m um m r k I/IIIIIIIIIIII/ INVENTOR. JOHN H.HORMAN BY I ATTORNEY FIG il. J

Nov- 1, 196 r J. H. HORMAN 2,958,752

PUSH BUTTON swn'ca Filed March 5. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I G ll 97 95we 98 INVENTOR. f\ z(\ JOHN H. HORMAN 1 84 A BY -e4a/1/La AT TORNE YUnited States Patent 6 PUSH BUTTON SWITCH John H. Horman, Tuckahoe,N.Y., assignor to Allied Control Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed Mar. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 719,365

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-159) This invention relates to electrical switches.More particularly, it relates to electrical switches of the push buttontype, that is switches which operate, making or breaking contact, onlyduring the interval of time that a button operatively associated withthe switch contacts is depressed.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a basic push buttonswitch construction adapted to convenient modification to meet differentservice requirements such as normally open or normally closed, single ormultiple throw and single or multiple pole.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide an inexpensive yetdependable push button switch and one which can be made small in size.

In the switch of the invention, the push button controls the position ofone or more leaf spring contacts which, when moved by the operation ofthe push -button, either make or break one or more connections betweenthe leaf spring contacts and fixed contacts. The switch constructionprovided to accomplish this mode of operation and the manner in whichthe aforementioned objects are attained will be apparent to personsskilled in the art from the accompanying drawings of switches, accordingto the invention, and the following description of these switches.

iln the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a single throw, three-pole switch according tothe invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the switch shown in Fig. 1and taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the switch shown in Fig. 1and taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the switch shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the push button employed in the switchof Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation view corresponding to Fig. 2 andillustrates a multi-pole, normally closed switch according to theinvention and generally similar to the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 8 corresponds to Fig. 7 and is a cross-sectional elevation view ofa single-pole, double throw switch according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view the same as Fig. 8 but showing the push buttondepressed;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line -10-1tt in Fig. 9;and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a part of a multi-pole double throw switchaccording to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1-5, there is shown a switch comprising a basemember 12, a hollow housing 13 secured to base member 12 by tongues 13projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of the housing,and a push button 14 slidably mounted in a housing threaded boss 16which carries a positioning nut 17 and a locking ice nut 18 which areprovided to position and secure the switch on, for example, a panel (notshown). The base member 12, which is formed of a suitable insulatingmaterial such as, a phenol formaldehyde plastic composition, availableunder the trademark Bakelite, has a plurality, namely three, fixedelectrical contacts 19 fixedly secured thereto by solder slugs 21deposited in recesses 22 formed in the base member 12. Solder slugs 21have embedded therein the inwardly disposed ends 23 of headed metal pins24 which extend through perforations 26 in the base member and secure tothe base member electrical terminals 27. Thus the fixed contacts 19 areelectrically connected with the terminals 27.

Provided for cooperation with each of the fixed contacts 19 is a leafspring contact 28 having a free contact end 29 and an anchored end 31.The contact end 29 of each leaf spring contact is moveable and isdisposed in operative alignment with its fixed contact so that upondownward movement it will engage its fixed contact making electricalconnection therewith. The anchored ends 31 of the leaf spring contactsare secured to the base member 12 by solder slugs 32 which are depositedin base member recesses 33 and the solder slugs 32 are electrically andmechanically connected with terminals 34 by pins 36 in the same manneras fixed contact terminals 27 are connected with solder slugs 21.

As is indicated in Fig. 2 leaf spring contacts 28 are normally spacedfrom fixed contacts 19, i.e., the switch is normally open, and upondepression of the push button 14, the leaf spring contacts are moveddownwardly so that their contact ends 29 electrically engage the fixedcontacts 19.

The push button 14 is advantageously generally T- shaped and is formedof a suitable electrical insulating material, preferably of anappropriate synthetic resin, such as molded nylon. The push buttoncomprises a body portion 41 formed by a cylindrical member 42 and aflattened member 43 extending above the cylindrical member 42. The pushbutton body portion is slidably mounted in vertical passageway 39 ofboss 1d, the passageway 39 extending completely through boss 16 andcommunicating with the inside 41) of housing 13. The passageway 39conforms to the push button body portion 41, and includes a cylindricalsection '44 for receiving in close fitting relationship push buttoncylindrical member 42, and a slotted section 46 for receiving, also inclose fitting relationship, push button body portion flattened member43. The engagement of the push button flattened member 43 by passagewayslotted section 45 renders the push button non-rotatable in thepassageway 39 and the close fitting relationship of the push button bodyportion 41 and the passageway 39 precludes tilting of the push button inthe boss 16.

Integral with the button body portion 11 and disposed horizontallywithin the housing 13 over and transversely of the leaf spring contacts28 and intermediate the end portions thereof, is an actuating bar 47.Depression of the push button 14 causes the actuating bar 4-7 to lowerthe the leaf spring contact ends 29 and cause them to engage the fixedcontacts 19. During this movement the actuating bar remains in itsnormal transverse relation to the leaf spring contacts due to thenon-rotatable mounting of the push button body portion 41 in the bosspassageway 33 and thus movement of the actuating bar relative to theleaf spring contacts in a predetermined manner is assured. Hence,electrical connection of all fixed and corresponding movable contacts iseffected simultane ously; and successive contacting which would occur ifthe push button were permitted to rotate so as to dispose the actuatingbar at an angle to the leaf springs, is prevented.

When the push button is in its normal position, i.e. not

depressed, the leaf spring contacts 28 urge the actuating bar 47upwardly into abutting engagement with the inner surface 48 of thehousing top 4-9 and the actuating bar thus limits the upward movement ofthe leaf spring contacts. The actuating bar 47 is of sufficient heightthat it maintains the end portions 29 of the leaf spring contacts spacedrelationship with the housing inner surface 48. This featurepermitsforming the housing of metal, Which is highly desirable, as itprevents shortcircuiting from the leaf spring contacts 128 with thehousing 13.

The leaf spring contacts 28 are formed of thin strips of resilient metaland in order to prevent injury thereto, the base member 12 is formedwith a rib 50 disposed directly beneath the actuating bar 47 so as tolimit the travel of the actuating bar.

In Fig. 7, there is shown a switch similar to the switch shown in Figs.1 to except that it is normally closed. Referring to Fig. 7, the switchcomprises a base member 51 having fixedly secured thereto, andelectrically connected respectively with terminals 59 and 60, fixed con-.tacts 5S and leaf spring contacts 57. A housing 52 is disposed over thebase member 51 and has mounted atop thereof a boss 53 having avertically extending passageway 56 in which there is slidably mounted apush button 54-. The leaf spring contacts 57 normally urge the contactends 61 thereof into electrical engagement with fixed contacts 58 andalso hold push button 54 in a raised position. Upon depressing the pushbutton 54, the leaf spring contacts are flexed downwardly thus breakingthe connection between the contact ends 61 thereof and the fixedcontacts 58. V

InFigs. 8, 9 and there is shown a single pole, double throw switchaccording to the invention. The switch comprises a base member 71 havinga normally closed fixed contact 79 secured thereto and electricallyconnected with a terminal 76 by a solder slug 83, a leaf spring contact78 secured thereto and electrically connected to a terminal 75 by asolder slug 85, and a normally open fixed contact 81 secured thereto andelectrically connected with a terminal 86 by a solder slug 84. Fixedcontact 81 is disposed intermediate the normally closed fixed contact 79and anchored end portion 89 of leaf spring contact 78 and beneath themovable leaf spring contact. Arranged over the base member 71, is ahollow housing 72 having a boss 73 mounted atop thereof. A passageway 88extends vertically through boss 73 and has slidably mounted therein apush button 74. An actuating bar 82 is fixedly secured to the inwardlydisposed end of the push button 74 and rests on movable leaf springcontact '78 so that movement of the push button will actuate the switch.The actuating bar 82 is disposed in alignment with normally open fixedcontact 81, and the working end 91 of the actuating bar tapers to arounded edge 92 so that working pressure is brought to bear on themovable leaf spring contact 78 directly over the normally open contact81 when the push button is depressed. Thus a good electrical connectionbetween the movable leaf spring contact 78 and the normally open fixedcontact 81 is assured.

The normal position of the switch contacts of the single pole, doublethrow switch of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are shown in Fig. 8, the leaf springcontact being in electrical engagement with the normally closed fixedcontact 79 and the normally open fixed contact 81 being in spacedrelation with the leaf spring contact 78. Upon depressing the pushbutton, as is shown in Fig. 9, the normally closed fixed contact 79becomes disengaged, and the normally open fixed contact 81 is engaged,by the leaf spring contact 78.

Many modifications of the switch constructions shovm in the drawings canbe made by adapting my basic construction to particular servicerequirements. Thus, for example, the multiple pole, single throw switchshown in Fig. 7 may readily be modified to include a set of normallyopen fixed contacts so that it would be a nulltiple pole, multiple throwswitch and similar in respect to throws to the switch of Figs. 8, 9 and10.

A multiple pole, multiple throw switch is depicted in Fig. 11. Theswitch of this modification comprises a base member 94 having aplurality of leaf spring contacts 95 secured thereto by solder slugs 96which engage the fixed ends 97 of the leaf spring contacts. The leafspring contacts extend over and above the base member 94 in parallel,side by side relation and terminate under a first set 98 of fixedcontacts including fixed contacts 101, 102 and 1% The fixed contacts101, 102 and 103 are secured to the base member 94 by solder slugs 104,105 and 106, respectively. A second set 108 of fixed contacts, includingcontacts 1W9, 110 and 111, is'disposed intermediate the ends of andunder the leaf spring contacts 95. The first set 98 of fixed contacts isnormally closed and the second set 108 is normally open. A push buttonactuating bar (not shown) controls the position of the leaf springcontacts in a manner similar to that described heretofore with referenceto the other switches depicted in the drawings.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects, construction,operation, and advantages of my present invention will be readilycomprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description.Although theinvention has been herein shown and described in severalsimple and practicable forms, it is recognized that certain parts orelements thereof are representative of other parts or elements which maybe used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially thesame results. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited to the exact details described herein, but is to beaccorded the full scope and protection of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical switch comprising a base member, a plurality of fixedelectrical contacts fixedly mounted on the base member, a plurality ofleaf spring contacts extending over the base member in spaced parallelrelationship, each leaf spring contact including a stationary endportion anchored to the base member and a free end portion disposed inoperative alignment with a corresponding fixed contact, said free endportions being normally spaced from the fixed contacts, a housingdisposed over the base member, a boss mounted atop the housing andhaving a passageway extending therethrough and communicating with theinterior of the housing, a one-piece generally T-shaped push buttonincluding a body portion having a surface so configured as to form anon-rotatable connection with the passageway for sliding movementtherein and an actuating bar at the inner end of the body portion, saidactuating bar being disposed within the housing over and transverse ofthe leaf spring contacts intermediate the end portions thereof wherebysimultaneous electrical connection of the leaf spring contacts and fixedcontacts can be made by depressing the push button, the non-rotatableconnection of the push button body portion with the boss passagewaymaintaining the actuating bar in transverse relation with the leafspring contacts and preventing rotation of the actuating bar andconsequent successive contacting of the leaf spring contacts by theactuating bar, said leaf spring contacts normally urging the push buttonactuating bar upwardly into abutting engagement with the housing wherebythe actuating bar limits upward movement of the leaf spring contacts,said actuating bar normally maintaining the leaf spring contacts withthe free end portions thereof in spaced relationship with the housing. g

2. An electrical switch, comprising a base member, a plurality of fixedelectrical contacts fixedly mounted on the base member, a plurality ofleaf spring contacts extending over the base member in spaced parallelrelationship, each leaf spring contact including a stationary endportion anchored to the base member and a free end portion disposed inoperative alignment with a corresponding fixed contact, a housingdisposed over the base member, a boss mounted atop the housing andhaving a passageway extending therethrough and communicating with theinterior of the housing, a one-piece generally T- shaped push buttonincluding a body portion having a surface so configured as to form anon-rotatable connection With the passageway for sliding movementstherein and an actuating bar for moving the leaf spring contacts at theinner end of the body portion, said actuating bar being disposed Withinthe housing over and transversely of the leaf spring contactsintermediate the end portions thereof whereby the positions of the freeend portions of the leaf spring contacts relative to the fixed contactsmay be changed simultaneously by depressing the push button, thenon-rotatable connection of the push button body portion With thepassageway insuring movement of the actuating bar relative to the leafsprings in a predetermined manner.

3. An electrical switch comprising a base member, first and second setsof fixed electrical contacts fixedly mounted on the base member, aplurality of leaf spring contacts extending over the base member inspaced parallel relationship, each leaf spring contact including astationary end portion anchored to the base member and a free endportion in operative alignment with a corresponding fixed contact of thefirst set of fixed contacts, each fixed contact of the second set offixed contacts being positioned beneath a corresponding leaf springcontact intermediate end portions thereof, a housing disposed over thebase member, a boss mounted atop the housing and having a passagewaytherethrough and communicating with the interior of the housing, aone-piece generally T-shaped push button including a body portion havinga surface so configured as to form a non-rotatable connection with thepassageway for sliding movement therein and an actuating bar at theinner end of the body portion, said actuating bar being normal to thebody portion and being disposed within the housing over and transverselyof the leaf spring contacts intermediate the end portions thereofwhereby the positions of the free end portions of the leaf springcontacts relative to the fixed contacts may be changed simultaneously bydepressing the push button, the housing limiting upward sliding movementof the push button, the second set of fixed electrical contacts limitingdownward sliding movement of the push button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS664,667 Nathans Dec. 25, 1900 674,398 Bower May 21, 1901 1,696,151Staedeli Dec. 18, 1928 2,722,574 Simmons Nov. 1, 1955

